Let's go back in time a little, to the year of 1988, when a talented quintet by the name of Carnage was formed in the Swedish underground. In a short period of time they released an EP, two demos and a full length, "Dark Recollections," which would forever mark their country's scene. For many it was the genesis of the Gothenburg Death/Thrash blend, a start shamefully forgotten by many (a condition that the short duration of the band helped serving, unfortunately). When Carnage disbanded the future was uncertain for the then not so known personalities such as Kärki, Blomqvist, Estby and Amott. If the first four soon went to concentrate on a new colossus, Dismember, it took the last a bit more time to get back in a new similar band. In 1995, after he left Carcass and already after At The Gates' breakthrough, he and his brother went out to form Arch Enemy. As "Black Earth" proves, they were finally set to create the project that would make them the leaders they were destined to be in this style.

I give this album an 8 too. There are some great moments, but it's pretty patchy. "Bury Me An Angel", "Dark Insanity", "Time Capsule", and the classic "Fields Of Desolation" are amazing songs. "Cosmic Retribution" is also awesome, and I love the classical latin guitar solo in it by Christopher.

To be honest there is absolutely nothing wrong with the musicianship here. The guitar work is spot on, the drums are all in the right places and the song structures themselves seem to fit really well. The vocals aren't shockingly bad in my opinion (I've heard much worse), but they still stay as the one weakness of this album. A great debut by the band, and one that would set the standard for albums to follow.